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What you missed at "Lunch with Lillia"

Lillia Callum-Penso, food writer at The Greenville News, leads a lunch and discussion at Everyday Organic in a new series called Lunch with Lillia on Tuesday, April 14, 2015. The series will be at a new location each time and give patrons the opportunity to enjoy good, local food, and an informal discussion about Greenville's local culinary scene.(Photo: MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff)

We came, we ate, we talked about food. Tuesday marked the first official

The lunch, which sold out, was held at Everyday Organic. The restaurant's owners, Breighanna and Taylor Newnham were very accommodating and really added a lot to the event. The two were kind enough to chat with the group for a bit about how they got into the restaurant biz – they are both Furman grads – and why they got interested in organic and healthier food options – it started when Taylor's father was battling cancer.

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Breighanna and Taylor Newnham, owners of Everyday Organic, talk to the Lunch with Lillia group on Tuesday, April 14, 2015.(Photo: MYKAL McELDOWNEY/Staff)

In the future, I'd really like to make sure that those sort of informal conversations with restaurant owners and local chefs are a part of the lunches.

I'll admit I was a bit nervous about this initial meeting of foodies, a fact I actually got called out on by one lunch attendee. First, I wondered if anyone would come, and then I wondered if people came, whether everyone would get along. Oy, the unnecessary anxiety I bring upon myself!

We actually had a really great group. Everyone had really varied backgrounds and really thoughtful things to add to the conversation about local food.

The group was mixed as far as age, profession and reason for attending. Full disclosure, two were my friends, who attended because they like food and because they wanted to support me. But the rest of the lunchers ranged from an engineer turned health coach, a public relations professional, a student, a writer, a marketing director, an entrepreneur/farmer.

The topic we decided on for this first lunch was where to find vegetarian food in Greenville. I moved here 11 years ago as a strict vegetarian and found the landscape of options rather lacking. Today, while I now eat seafood, I still enjoy non-meat options. Turned out, many in our gathering do too. Some started thinking more about food due to health concerns, and for others it was just being exposed to local producers and more information about how food is grown and processed.

The conversation ran the gambit. We talked a lot about how Greenville's food scene has changed, but also what it still lacks. And we also discussed where to find healthier, and more conscious cuisine. Kuka Juice, Good to Go, Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery and of course, Everyday Organic are all favorite spots. We all agreed that Table 301 Restaurant Group's recent announcement about its new organic cold-pressed juice bar and raw vegan café, Southern Pressed Juicery, is a testament to the big shifts going on in Greenville.

All in all, I had a great time. The company was great and lunch was delicious too. If you go to Everyday Organic, and you should, try the quiche plate. The crust was perfection.

The quiche plate at Everyday Organic included a delicious piece of quiche, homemade vegetable soup and a side salad.(Photo: Lillia Callum-Penso)

And please, join us at the next "Lunch with Lillia." We'll be choosing a different topic and a different restaurant. Stay tuned for details!